KOLLAM,
DEC. 22.
In a major crackdown on video piracy, a police team led by the Kollam SP, S. Sreejith, today seized hundreds of pirated compact discs (CDs) from several video libraries in the district.

Talking to presspersons, Mr. Sreejith said that most of the pirated CDs seized were of Tamil and Malayalam films still running in the `A' class theatres.

CD of unreleased film

Pirated CDs of a Tamil film yet to be released was seized from a library. Mr. Sreejith said that the claim by the library owners that they were permitted to take five copies of the master print was totally baseless.

Taking copies of a master print is piracy and an offence under the Copyright Act. The crackdown on piracy would continue, he said.

The Anti-Piracy Cell of the Kollam Police had launched the crackdown against piracy since the past seven days. The police had arrested 22 persons and registered 21 cases since the past six days in connection with the crackdown. More than 900 pirated and pornographic CDs were seized. While the pirated CDs are rented out for Rs. 20 each, one library was even selling the pirated CDs at Rs. 25 each.

!,00 CDs seized

In raids conducted today, more than 1,000 pirated CDs have been seized. Police said that the figure on the arrests and the number of cases registered in connection with today's raids would be released only later.

Three computers used for pirating the master print have also been seized from Kottarakara.

Mr. Sreejith said that investigations conducted so far revealed that the sources of the pirated CDs were based in other districts and also in Tamil Nadu. He said that the investigations would therefore spread to those places as well.

The police would also probe information whether a section of the film industry had a hand in promoting piracy.

The raid team comprised the Special Branch Dy.SP, Pratapan, and the Kollam East Circle Inspector, Raj Kumar.

Mr. Sreejith said that viewing a pirated CD was also an offence and that the viewer could be arrested.

He wanted the library owners to take cue from the crackdown and stop distribution of pirated CDs.